gills reserve - Forest and Bird

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AUGUST – DECEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER OF THE ROYAL FOREST AND BIRD PROTECTION SOCIETY TIAKI TAIAO, NORTH SHORE BRANCH
GILLS RESERVE
On February 27, eleven of us explored Gills Reserve, Albany.
It has been my practice to teach the correct Maori pronunciation of
our native plants, after 50 years of hearing kauri mispronounced
cowree, tawa with long vowels sounds instead of short ones
and totara called toetra. So when someone on this trip wanted
to know what hangehange was, I said, ‘The first syllable is short
and pronounced like hung; the second and last syllables are
pronounced e as in egg, and of course the g is soft.’
For those who don’t know, a in Maori is pronounced ‘uh’ as in
cup; i is pronounced ‘ee’ as in sleep; o is ‘or’ as in more; u is ‘oo’
as in soon. So totara is pronounced ‘tor-tuh-ruh’ with slightly
more stress on the first syllable.
Our exploration began
by crossing the Gills Rd
one-way bridge, then
strolling down the true
right of Waikahikatea
Stream. We admired the
waterfall downstream
which was flowing well
for late February. Flattened
vegetation was observed
Hangehange
about 2m higher than the
current water level on the
banks: evidence of flooding from Cyclone Wilma a month
before.
Jasmine, Japanese honeysuckle, phoenix palm and woolly
nightshade were noted. There were many hawthorn trees in fruit.
Hawthorn is a surveillance pest plant in the Auckland region.
We climbed up a fairly steep west-facing grassy slope to re-enter
the bush which includes mature rewarewa, puriri, karaka,
tanekaha and taraire, with smaller tawa, kauri, miro and white
maire. Higher up we found kanuka, common tree daisy, mapou,
hangehange, kumerahou, toru and toropapa (Alseuosmia
macrophylla)). A single large totara is worth checking out.
Richard identified a large-leaved whiteywood (Melicytus
macrophyllus) about 2.5m high. This species grows up to 6m.
Its leaves are more robust than mahoe/whiteywood (Melicytus
ramiflorus). The former is found between North Auckland and
the Waikato, as well as locally near Dunedin. Auckland Botanical
Society members call this species ‘Melly mac – the widest part
of the leaf is distal to the half way point with coarser serrations
than Melicytus ramiflorus, minimal teeth near stem, and the
leaves tends to be waxier.
– Margi Keys
THANKS
We sincerely thank:
Don Turner of Takana Nursery, for donating 12 large-grade
native trees to the Tuff Crater project. www.takana.co.nz
OUR NOLA
Milford resident Nola Ovens, a keen Forest & Bird member since
2000 and an amateur photographer since the 1960s, was a star
in May's Nature for Action (Nola captures North Shore nature,
on page 6), for recording 80 local bush walks of various lengths
she has done since June 2007. Her work consists of seven large
folders of photos and trip reports, complete with the names of
exotic and native plants she has seen on the walks. Thank you for
creating such a wonderful record, Nola!
MILLENNIUM FOREST UPDATE
It was a good summer. The 2010 plantings, beside the grassy path
going up to the Canon walkway, have survived well and grown a
lot. Occasionally we have been through the area weeding gorse,
eleagnus regrowth and the odd moth plant, but the heavy layer of
mulch that was put down has helped to keep the area free of weeds.
Some plants have needed staking.
Visitors to the area will have noticed that we have been preparing
the area just below the pond for infill planting. Over the years, some
plants have died and this winter will be a good time to replant the
gaps. Workers have been through weeding out moth plant and
privet seedlings and the edges have all been sprayed to control
kikuyu grass.
Our next big push is weeding out privet seedlings in other parts of
the forest as well. They are certainly very hardy and keep popping up
everywhere. They are easier to remove when small.
Several groups from local businesses have volunteered to help out on
their community work day. Long may this initiative last. Workplaces
allocating a day for their staff to get out into the community for a
day’s labour have made a big difference.
We are going to run Thursday morning working bees at Tuff Crater.
See timetable on the What's On page for details.
– Anne Denny
Send newsletter contributions to Margi Keys, PO Box 33873, Takapuna or email makeys@nettel.net.nz
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